Remember the TV show, Green Acres? Among the cast of oddball characters was bumbling extension agent Hank Kimball who made life even harder for Oliver Wendell Douglas, the erstwhile New 
York attorney turned very bad farmer.
That's probably as close as most suburbanites get to an extension office. So, I am here today to tell anyone interested in gardening, local foods, cooking and developing a variety of other life-enhancing skills to check out the Madison County Extension Office.
Recent gardening courses include topics such as "Late Summer and Fall Blooming Perennials," and "Summer and Fall Blooming Trees and Shrubs." The office also offers a horticulture helpline open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until noon. Problem petunias? Give them a call.
Kids in the Kitchen, a series of youth cooking school programs, are held in a variety of locations throughout the summer along with family nutrition classes and much more.
To learn what the University of Illinois Extension Service can do for you, click on www.extension.uiuc.edu/madisonstclair. The phone number is: 618-650-7050.
RELATED NEWS
Coming up at the Watershed Nature Center in Edwardsville:
- EarthWatch, Tuesday, August 12 at 7 p.m. at the Watershed Nature Center in Edwardsville. Rick Macho will share pictures and stories from his summer research trip to the Cloud Forest of South America.
- Caterpillar and Butterfly Walk, Tuesday, August 19, 6:30 p.m. at the Watershed Nature Center. Guest speaker June Jeffries will talk about caterpillars, butterflies and moths and attendees will walk through beautiful habitats at the Watershed.
Learn more at 618-692-7578 or e-mail watershed@cityofedwardsville.com.
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About the Author: Nancy Milton, GRI, is a REALTOR with the GoshenRealtyGroup at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Kristina Pratt help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs with special emphasis on homes for sale in Madison County and the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville, Troy, Bethalto and surrounding areas.
Goshen Realty Group takes its name from the earliest nickname for Madison County, Illinois -- the Land of Goshen -- coined when the region's first settlers compared their new home east of the Mississippi River to the biblical land of peace and plenty.
For more information, visit GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Nancy at Nancy@GoshenRealtyGroup.com. Text or call Nancy at 618-791-8007. REMAX Preferred Partners is located at One 157 Center, Edwardsville, IL 62025.
Please note that individual listings periodically mentioned in this blog are accurately described in terms of availability and price at the time of the posting. Because properties are constantly coming on and off the market, please contact Nancy for the latest information on those that are of particular interest to you.
